Chapter 47: Two Fishermen

In the royal palace, inside the room where Cohen learned spells from the Queen.

The communication stone in his hand vibrated.

Under the [Frequent Contacts] column, the avatar of [Gold-Rank "Knight"] was flashing.

The message sender was the direct Gold-Rank superior of Silver-Rank Two Hundred and Seven!

[Gold-Rank "Knight"] sent an address and a temporary mission:

"Tomorrow afternoon at three, bring your Bronze-Rank assassins and ambush here. Wait for my command for the rest."

Cohen's eyes flickered slightly; the operation was about to begin.

To notify only at the Silver-Rank level when matters reached a head, without revealing even the slightest detail of the specific operation, the operation planned by the "Black Tomb" was indeed extremely meticulous.

No wonder the "Daughter of Golden Wings" suffered such a crushing defeat in his past life.

The sound of high heels stepping on the floor rang out. Cohen put away the communication stone and obediently played the role of his Queen sister's good student.

The two-hour ample lesson soon ended, and Cohen had listened with keen interest.

As a quasi-Legend-Rank mage and a Daughter of Divine Grace, Adair's insights and understanding of spells were extremely profound, and her casual remarks provided Cohen with great inspiration.

The [Dragon-Sealed Weapon Master] class dual-cultivated both magic and martial arts; studying advanced spells was of great help in enhancing combat effectiveness.

Looking at Cohen's solemn expression, Adair momentarily lost herself in thought.

Father was right; Cohen was increasingly resembling a monarch.

Perhaps once he regained his memories, the scene of today would never happen again.

Gazing at Adair, who had suddenly zoned out, Cohen spoke up:

"Sister, tomorrow Royal Uncle is going to begin teaching me the exclusive skills of the [Paladin], so I won't be able to stay in the palace."

Adair calmed the ripples in her heart, staring at Cohen, a trace of sudden astonishment condensing in her eyes:

"Your Majesty has already advanced to the Second Rank?"

Cohen's heart tightened. He had actually been seen through?

What happened to the promised awakened talent [Child of Mist]?

Just moments ago, Cohen had deliberately activated the talent [Child of Mist] out of fear that his Second-Rank cultivation would be seen through by his Queen sister, thereby giving rise to any unwarranted associations.

He hadn't expected to be seen through anyway!

When did Qidian's golden finger become so pathetic?

Cohen's eyes flickered as he recalled the explanation of Child of Mist:

[Your past, present, and future are hidden in the mist of the eternal night, impossible for anyone to see through!]

Impossible for *anyone* to see through, but what if she wasn't *anyone*?

Cohen suddenly recalled his conversation with the God of War Ares, and Ares's faint dread of the aura of the "icicle" woman on him.

Could it be...

His Queen sister was definitely connected to a deity!

It seemed that in the future, his identity as the "Lord of Shadows" must never meet the Queen, otherwise it would be easily exposed.

Thoughts flashed by in an instant.

Cohen's mind turned quickly, and he hurriedly put on an embarrassed expression:

"I originally wanted to give Sister a surprise, but I didn't expect Sister to see through it in advance."

A rare, extraordinarily charming smile bloomed on the Queen's exquisite face:

"Your Majesty's talent is truly remarkable. Had you taken up cultivation earlier, perhaps you would be even stronger than Sister by now."

Cohen laughed sheepishly:

"It's all thanks to Royal Uncle's good teaching; without Royal Uncle's help, I wouldn't have advanced so quickly."

Perhaps Cohen's progress elevated the Queen's mood considerably, as today's lesson was extended by two hours.

A long-lost aura of youth surfaced on the Queen; when all was said and done, she was merely a girl in her early twenties.

In a trance, the Queen felt as if she had returned to ten years ago, to those carefree girlhood days in the palace.

Cohen also unconsciously laid down his heavy burdens, and past memories surged like a tide. He truly felt as though he had become his six-year-old self once again.

The consequence of extending the lesson by two hours was the continuous sound of anxious footsteps from the female official outside the door.

Adair restrained all her tender emotions, reverting once more to that autocratic Her Majesty the Queen.

Upon receiving permission, the female official hurried inside, presenting news that was not entirely unexpected to Cohen:

Grand Duke Roland of the Western Empire applied for a right of way through the Emerald Lake tomorrow, specially presenting a handwritten letter from the Grand Duke himself, and hoping to have an audience with His Majesty the King the day after tomorrow.

The Imperial Grand Duke suddenly arriving in person in Ayfeen and requesting an audience with the King took the Queen by some surprise.

However, aside from being a heavyweight figure in the Western Empire, this Grand Duke Roland was also an old acquaintance of the late King. For both public and private reasons, she had no reason to refuse.

As for the right of way through the Emerald Lake, the Queen naturally assumed the other party was merely out to sightsee and enjoy the scenery, giving it no further thought.

The Queen pinched the bridge of her nose and said slowly:

"Grant the right of way. Additionally, summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs; accompany them once Grand Duke Roland enters the city."

"Yes!"

Outside the city of Florence, embraced by mountains, a curve of lake water resembled a piece of emerald quietly inlaid upon the earth.

A gentle breeze swept by, creating shimmering ripples that sparkled like countless shattered diamonds.

This was the famous Emerald Lake of Florence.

Along the lakeside, looking far into the distance, a mountain villa was concealed among vast tracts of maple forests.

By the tranquil lakeside, two fishermen were leisurely fishing.

Both wore plain robes, reclining on swaying rattan chairs with eyes half-closed, as if merging into the surrounding landscape.

One of them was a white-haired old man with a refined and lean face, while the other was plump, a middle-aged man with a gentle appearance and an ambiguous smile constantly hanging on his lips.

The fish baskets beside them were completely empty, yet the two of them paid it no mind.

Soon, a burst of chaotic hoofbeats shattered the serene scene.

The lean old man slightly opened his eyes, his gaze seeming to pierce through layers of maple leaves to spot the newcomers on the official road.

The old man said with a hint of grievance:

"That little brat of the Roland family is still as annoying as ever!

Judging by this battle array, he leaves his house as if terrified that others might not know, and he's scared away the fish that was just about to bite my hook!"

The plump middle-aged man's mouth twitched slightly as he silently slandered in his heart: You've been sitting there for half a day, old sir, and it seemed not a single fish took the bait.

As he thought this, he imperceptibly flicked his fishing rod, quietly letting the fish that was nibbling on his hook swim away.

That movement was extremely practiced, without startling the old man beside him at all. Evidently, he had done this many times, skillfully enough to break one's heart.

Fishing in the company of a superior was truly a technical job!

He slowly replied:

"Why should Your Excellency the Privy Councilor bother getting upset with a child? The fish in the water won't bite, but the ones outside the water will; that's all that matters."

A cunning smile appeared on the lean old man's face, "Filno, do you think if we manage to retrieve that old codger Saint Paul's cross this time, what kind of reward should we demand from him?"

The plump middle-aged man wisely kept his mouth tightly shut and offered no reply.

His Eminence the Grand Inquisitor of the Church of Light could casually jest about His Holiness the Pope without restraint, but he lacked the guts to do so.

The "little brat of the Roland family" in the mouth of the Grand Inquisitor of the Church of Light was a tall and straight-backed middle-aged warrior.

A mane of golden hair, bright as sunlight, was casually draped over his shoulders.

His thick eyebrows slanted slightly upward like a falcon about to spread its wings, and the firm lines of his tightly pursed lips revealed a resolute will and decisive character.

Grand Duke Roland of the Western Empire wore magnificent purple-gold armor and rode a snow-white unicorn. The unicorn's horn gleamed with magical brilliance, kicking up wind beneath its hooves as if stepping on clouds.

Behind the Grand Duke was an awe-inspiring cavalcade of knights. Every knight was spirited and dashing, wielding sharp lances, their shields engraved with the violet-thorn family crest representing the Roland family.

Armor radiating powerful magical auras gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, and their synchronized footsteps caused the earth to tremble slightly.

In the sky, several giant griffins circled, their riders keeping vigilant watch and constantly observing the surrounding situation.

The Roland family's "Elite-Rank" army, the [Heart of Violet Thorn]!

The Grand Duke's expression was solemn and majestic, his deep gaze seemingly piercing through layers of maple forests to lock onto the villa hidden among the mountains.

Soon, a scouting rider galloped up to the Grand Duke, bowed in salute, and reported:

"Your Grace, the area ahead has been thoroughly scouted.

The people of the 'Pale Wings' have already entered the villa, and no anomalies have been found in the vicinity. There are just a few commoners fishing by the lake; should we chase them away?"

Grand Duke Roland waved his hand slightly:

"No need, do not disturb the local civilians.

Tell the brothers to mind their influence and not disgrace the image of our Western Empire! We must maintain the magnanimity and dignity of a great power!"

"Yes, Your Grace!"